Unit 5 Psychological Roles

Running Header: Roles Psychologists Play in the Justice System

Roles Psychologists Play in the Justice System

Sarah Minter

Kaplan University

Psychologists do not only study offenders, but victims, law enforcement staff, the juror, any expert witnesses, judges, prison guards, and parole officers in our legal system. Their research findings have impact on all of these areas in the legal system, and this responsibility comes with the need to follow strict ethical guidelines while producing and communicating precise information to explain specific legal situations or settle legal disagreements. With this in mind, we will explore the duties, and ethical considerations forensic psychologists face while performing these duties. (Greene, Fortune, Heibrun, & Nietzel, 2006)

Psychologists play a large role in modern law enforcement agencies, especially the larger ones according to Davis (1998) as organizational development advisors, and submitting performance results assessments advisors, and police psychologists. We will look at police psychologists, also known as behavioral scientists, in their duties and functions within a law enforcement facility in particularly the ethical considerations faced by these psychologists. They usually are involved in law enforcement agencies either as a member of the agency’s permanent staff, providing consultation, psychological services, and instruction for their agency, or are used as outside advisors providing their services and advice under contract. Either way, the person providing these services should have good communications with the police chief and other higher managerial positions within the agency. (Davis, 1998)

The typical duties of the police psychologist include but are not limited to officer candidate assessment, officer risk assessment, hostage negotiations, stress management and counseling for officers and sometimes their families. They may also be involved in other duties such as police management...